Vacuum-cleaning device



Julyf. C l 1,462,223

' M. s; WRIGHT A VACUUM. CLEANING` DEVICE n 2 sheets-sheet- 1 Fire semf 21, 1916 VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2l 1916 2 Sheets-Shes# 2 Patented duly i 7., 1223.

narran aras-s arent Y asics.

MORRIS vS. WRIGHT, OF WORCESTER. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO M. S. WRIGHT COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

VACUUM-CLEANING nnvron.

y T all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that Mounts S. VRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the countyof `Worcester and- State of lMassachusetts` has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum- Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaning devices of the portable type, adapted to move over floor surfaces and the like whereby to, through the medium of suction, cleanse such surfaces of dust laden particles and the like. l

More particularly, the invention has to deal withfa combination suction cleaning deviceof a character to be readily altered whereby to convert the device into a machine, for cleaning wall surfaces and the like, as well as floors 4and the like.

While the improvements embodied herein' aresusceptible of a varietyv of adaptations, in that embodiment of the invention illustrated the improvements are conveniently applied to a portable cleaner of the electrical type. such as illustrated and described in detail in a copending application for Letters-Patent filed by myself concurrently herewith. f

It iscontemplated by the present invention to provide `nove-l and improved meansI of attachment to the dust inlet nozzle, of. a hose coupling whereby to close the main nozzleinlet and establish direct conjimunication between the hose and the outlet port of the nozzle. it being understood of course that the hose has applied thereto a suitable wall or other surface engaging tool.

Further. the invention includes a hose coupling member for nozzles of a character making unnecessary securing bolts, screw threaded fastenings and the like. and of a character making possible an effective sealing connection between the hose coupling and associated parts without the necessity of removing the hose from the coupling and without twisting the hose in the application of the coupling to the nozzle.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of hose coupling means of a character to be'applied at will to Application led September 21, 1916. Serial No. 121,479.

either the nozzle or the outlet from the machine thereby converting the machine from a suction cleaner to a blower as desired.

Other and further improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the -various parts of the device will be. brought out in the vfollowing description, which is to be readin connec tion with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for purposes of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l is a front elevation of my device, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 a side elevation with parts shown in section. le

Fig. 3 is an opposite side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the closure c'ap.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the coupling member.

lVith more particular reference to Athe vdrawings` wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 is a truck or platform having suitable supporting wheels 2 for the rear end of the device. 3 is a horizontally disposed motor having a surrounding casing 4, which latter is secured at its forward end as by bolts 5 to the rear wall of a suitable Vfan casing 6. The latter has inv its periphery a lateral tubular extension forming an outlet conduit 7 adapted to be connected with the lower end of a dust receptacle in the form of a fabric bag 8 which latter at its upper end is vieldably supported at 9 to a push handle 10 pivotally mounted at its lower end upon suitable bearings 11 konthe truck. The fan casing is preferably of sheet metal construction and has in the front wall 12 thereof a central aperture' of dust inlet 13, said` aperture being conveniently circula-r. 14 is a vertically. disposed hollow nozzle member also preferably of sheet metal conconne ion 15nl i easing.' f e, i. edge with the usual l said nozzle ordina ily Aed constitutes the supthe fronu end oic `the device, 'though .in this connection, an adjustable ioiler or rollers 19 may be provided for elevating the nozzle from the surface at will.

lit will be observed that the joint 15L be-` taken up by the fan 20. Alsothe joint 15l affords a continuous smooth edge surface for the opening in theA rear` Wall 16 o f -the nozzle adapted to be engaged by the inner end or terminal ot' the hose coupling member to be now described.

The front Wall 16a of the nozzle is pro-V vided With an opening, conveniently circular and of a diameter greater `than that of the opening in the rear Wall of the nozzle, the said opening being adapted for the recep` tion of a hose attachment comprising a tubular hose engaging part 21 having a peripheral bead 22 adapted to receive a hose section 23, it being understood that the hose has applied to the opposite end thereof a suitable Wall or other surface engaging tool. 23 is a tubular part adapted at'its inner end 24 to-engage the centralopening in the rear Wall 16 of the nozzle. The tubular member 23 has a portion of increased diameter 25 connecting with the terminal portion 24 by an inwardly tapered part 26.

The part 25hasan end flange 27 and the hose engaging pait 21 at its inner end'has a portion 28 having a anged or beaded engagement with the ange 27. and terminating with an outwardly rejecting flange part 29 adapted vto exten over the outer surface of the front Wall 16 of the nozzle. The parts 21 and -23 of the coupling member just described are preferably formed of sheet meta-l, stamped or vdrawn to the desired shape, and the flange 29 of the part 21 is provided in the periphery thereof with oppositely disposed segmental cut-out parts 30 connecting with struck up cam surfaces 31. Positioned on the front Wall 16a of the nozzle is a headed pin 32 arranged opposite to an inwardly pressed spring` arm or clip 33 secured at 341:0 thel upper edge of the nozzle. The cut out parts 30 of the iiange 29 are adapted to readilyV passthe engaging portions of the retaining memv30 and 31 respective ffii." h

coup

and when increment to the cam surfacesy 31 Mill be biought Contact With the .retaining members 32 and which Will exert inward pressure on the coupling member, thereby forcing the all of the opening in the rear Wall 16 or the nozzle.

s. temporary closure member 35 is pro! portion of which has a roughened. peiiph' ery to be engaged by the fingers of the operator and said raised portion connecting inner end 21 into position'in contact with.

with aninivardly projecting annular beaded part 37 fitting within the Wall surrounding the opening in the nozzle. The periphery of the flange ot' the cap is provided with segmental cut out parts 38, and cam surfaces 39 similar in design and construction to the cut-out arts and cam surfaces l; of the couplingmeinber heretofore described.

i The operation of the devioe thus far described is substantially as follows When it is desired to clean floor surfaces and the like, the hose coupling member is re moved and the cap 35 normally closes the opening in the front Wall 16u of the nozzle, when the dust laden air will be suckedvin from the lower edge 18 of the nozzle and into the fan 'casing through the medium of the suction created by the motor and connected fan, it being understood of course that suitable electrical connections are provided for the motor. By reason of the peculiar connection between the) nozzle and fan casing. a smooth and unobstructed passage-Way is provided for the dust or dirt which readily finds an exit Jfrom the fan casing into the dust receptacle 8. Now, when it is desired to cleanse Walls or the like, the coupling member with the hose 23 applied thereto is inserted through the opening` in the front Wall 16L of the nozzle, lthe oclosure cap 35 having been removed for this purpose. The flared or tapered portion 26 of the coupling member readily rides. over the Walls sur` rounding the opening in the nozzle and the' enlarged portion 25 will' rest against the Wall of said opening when the coupling member is seated,` the wall of the opening constituting a guide in the-assembling operation. In the application of the coupling, the cut-out members 3() readily engage over the retaining members 32 and 33 when by giving a slight turning movement to. the coupling member the cam surfaces 31 will engage the inner surface of the retaining members 32 and 33, thereby 'forcing the inner end 24 of the' coupling member into position Within the opening in the rear Wall 16 of the nozzle, thus simultaneously closing communication between the inlet slot 18 and the fan casing and establishing communication between the hose and said fan casing, because of the elimination of screws, or other like means of connection between the nozzle and fan casing, a continuous inner smooth surface is maintained for the nozzle which makes possible a snug engagement between. the terminal 24 of the cou- .10 pling member and the opening in said inner' surface. lt will also be appreciated that it is not necessary to remove the hose member from the coupling member in the assem- 'bling or removal operation, and because of thepeculiar retaining means for the couplingmember, the latter is readily fixed in position by aslight turning movement,

which will" not result in any 'appreciable turning or twisting movement of the hose 'suchas would result from a screw threaded connection or the.-lik e for `the coupling 7^member.

Y 'It is'sometiines quite diflicult to cleanse corners Y and. other'` inaccessibleplaces, and

with this primarily in mind,'it is proposed at times to convert vthe machine into a blower whereby :to vblow and dislodgethe dirtor dust to be afterwards gathered by the suction mechanism. To this end vthe .30 hose coupling member 2l is preferably of a character adapted to be applied as desired 5to the outlet Vconduit 7 after the dust collecting bag 8 has been removed. The outlet conduit 'has oppositely disposed Leshaped slots or grooves` 8 adapted to receive lugs 8* on a collar. Satthe vend `of the bag 8. `Likewise, the hosecoupling member 21 is lprovided with inwardly struck lugs or beads 21" in the part 24thereof adapted to 40 engage in said grooves 8a, said part 240i.:

the hose coupling being of a diameter to.

form a sleevedengagement with the .outlet .conduit 7. It is understood of course that when the hose attachment is applied toithe outlet conduit for blowing purposes the opening in the front wall 16a of the nozzle will be closed and the nozzle elevated fromA the Hoor to obviate entrance of dust intov the machine. It is to be understood' that when the hose coupling has beentapplied to the outletconduit 7', vafter removal of the bag 8, the device is susceptible of. a variety of uses in addition to that of blowing dust and dirt, and in this lconnection the device mayv be employed with satisfactory vresults for. drying purposes, for in stance hair after washing, etc. What I claim is 1. In a vacuum. cleaning machine the combination of a fan casing having an opening in one wall thereof, a,nozzle having vopenings in the front and rear walls thereof with the opening in the front wall of increased diameter relative to'that of theA rear wall, the said rear wall of the nozzle having a flange part projecting through the. opening of the fan casing' and turned inwardly whereby to-overlie the inner surface of the fan'casing, the said flange forming a smooth continuous engaging surface, and a coupling member of sheet metal having a Atapered periphery insertable through the openings'of lthe nozzle and adapted to conform to and frictionally engage said engaging surface, and means interposed between the nozzle and coupling member for maintaining such frictional engagement.

2. A nozzle attachment for fan casings.y

zle, said coupling member having a tapered y wall of thin sheet metal to 'contactwith said bearing surface, and-also having a pro- Jection overlying the front surface of the nozzle, and means on the nozzle -to overlie said projection, and adapted by a rotary movement -of the coupling member to force the tapered `wall :into place.

3.- In combination with a nozzle adapted tov beapplied to a vacuum cleaner fan casing,"the nozzle having openingsin the front and rear walls thereof with the opening in the front`wall o`f increased diameterrelative to that of the rear Wall,h and the rear wall of thenozzle surrounding its opening having a curved flange part forming a smooth bearing., of a coupling member, insertable throughthe opening of the nozzle, said coupling member being formed of sheet metal and having a tapered surface to engage said smooth. bearing, said coupling member having an offset part, and also having an annular part interposed between said ofl'set part and' the front surface ofthe nozzle, and means on the nozzle to engage said annular part upon a ro\ tation of the coupling member to maintain the .coupling member in place.

1 -.In a machine of the character described, .the combinationof` a horizontally disposed casing, a rotatable fan in the casfront wall thereof, a nozzle formed of sheetv metal having a dust inlet slot at its lower edge and-adapted to contact at itsrear wall against the front wall of the casing, said nozzle having openings in ,the front and rear walls thereof with the wall surrounding the opening in the rear wall bent back upon itself to forma continuous smooth ing, said casing having an opening in the" engaging collar overlying' the exposed edge of the opening in Athe front Wall of the casing, and a coupling member having a, tapered Wallto fretionally engage by a, sliding movement said collar, and means i for engagngsaid coupling member to maintam the same in place.

MORRIS S. AWRIGHT.

VWitnesses: MABEL I.' CHADBOURNE,

-CLIFFORD L. WRIGHT. 

